ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
World Cup Cocktail
World Cup Cocktail
On Khurram Khan's many previous visits to Melbourne as a flight purser, he stayed across the road from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Khan, 43, is the captain of UAE and he deliberately avoided going into the world's largest cricket arena.
"I never walked into the stadium, because I always wanted to play there. I always thought, if I'm going into the stadium it should be to play," Khan said.
That finally came true this week.
He was practicing there on Tuesday, preparing to play for the United Arab Emirates against Australia the next day, in a warmup for the Cricket World Cup, where he will be the tournament's oldest player.
"The last couple of years have been the best in my life, since I have been playing cricket," said Khurram, who sometimes kept up his fitness by doing pushups between in-flight meal services.
Khan, 43, is the captain of UAE and he deliberately avoided going into the world's largest cricket arena.
"I never walked into the stadium, because I always wanted to play there. I always thought, if I'm going into the stadium it should be to play," Khan said.
That finally came true this week.
He was practicing there on Tuesday, preparing to play for the United Arab Emirates against Australia the next day, in a warmup for the Cricket World Cup, where he will be the tournament's oldest player.
"The last couple of years have been the best in my life, since I have been playing cricket," said Khurram, who sometimes kept up his fitness by doing pushups between in-flight meal services.
Super fan spends $6000
Adam Berry once skipped school to see one game of 1992 World Cup, now he's spent $6000 for seven of them.
The 12-year-old sat on Lancaster Park's now long-gone concrete terraces in awe of Paddy Greatbatch smashing around Wasim Akram and Imran Khan.
He chanted, "Goodbye Australia", as Pakistan beat New Zealand to eliminate Australia from the tournament.
Those halcyon days gave Mr Berry a life-long passion for the nation's summer game. And so when it was announced that New Zealand would co-host with Australia the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tournament, the now 35-year-old vowed to be there.
The self-confessed "cricketing tragic" has tickets to seven matches.
"It just had to be done," Mr Berry said.
Adam Berry once skipped school to see one game of 1992 World Cup, now he's spent $6000 for seven of them.
The 12-year-old sat on Lancaster Park's now long-gone concrete terraces in awe of Paddy Greatbatch smashing around Wasim Akram and Imran Khan.
He chanted, "Goodbye Australia", as Pakistan beat New Zealand to eliminate Australia from the tournament.
Those halcyon days gave Mr Berry a life-long passion for the nation's summer game. And so when it was announced that New Zealand would co-host with Australia the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tournament, the now 35-year-old vowed to be there.
The self-confessed "cricketing tragic" has tickets to seven matches.
"It just had to be done," Mr Berry said.
Clarke out of opener
Australia captain Michael Clarke was Thursday ruled out of Australia's World Cup opener against rivals England after battling to fully shake off his hamstring problems.
Coach Darren Lehmann confirmed that Clarke would not play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday but should feature in Australia's second game against Bangladesh in Brisbane on February 21.
“He's not playing Saturday," said Lehmann. "We're really happy with his progress. We're going to stick with the plan and he's going to play against Bangladesh." -- Compiled
Australia captain Michael Clarke was Thursday ruled out of Australia's World Cup opener against rivals England after battling to fully shake off his hamstring problems.
Coach Darren Lehmann confirmed that Clarke would not play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday but should feature in Australia's second game against Bangladesh in Brisbane on February 21.
“He's not playing Saturday," said Lehmann. "We're really happy with his progress. We're going to stick with the plan and he's going to play against Bangladesh." -- Compiled
